Sri Lankan judge walks out of impeachment

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Shirani Bandaranayake, Sri Lanka's most senior judge, stands accused of failing to declare $250,000 in foreign currency. Her legal team has said the charges against her have been concoctedIshara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images

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The drive to impeach Bandaranayake has prompted a direct clash between Sri Lanka’s judiciary and the regime of President Rajapakse (above)Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images

Sri Lanka’s most senior judge, Shirani Bandaranayake, stormed out of an
impeachment hearing brought after she tried to block moves to give President
Rajapakse more powers. She said she had lost faith in the proceedings.

She is accused of failing to declare $250,000 in foreign currency.

Her legal team has said the charges against her have been concocted in order
to gain greater control over the country’s formerly independent judiciary.

“At various stages of the proceedings of the PSC (parliamentary select
committee), two (ruling party) members hurled abuse such as ‘mad woman’ at
the chief justice,” her lawyers said in